Avista Co. (NYSE:AVA) Shares Bought by IMS Capital Management

IMS Capital Management grew its holdings in Avista Co. (NYSE:AVA) by 33.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 13,371 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,340 shares during the quarter. IMS Capital Management’s holdings in Avista were worth $490,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of AVA. Sanctuary Wealth Management L.L.C. purchased a new stake in Avista during the 3rd quarter worth about $28,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Avista during the 3rd quarter worth about $29,000. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its holdings in shares of Avista by 43.0% during the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,723 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $63,000 after buying an additional 518 shares in the last quarter. Eastern Bank raised its position in shares of Avista by 309.3% in the fourth quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 1,842 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $67,000 after buying an additional 1,392 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its position in Avista by 183.8% during the fourth quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 1,856 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $68,000 after acquiring an additional 1,202 shares during the last quarter. 85.24% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Jefferies Financial Group cut their price target on Avista from $40.00 to $39.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 28th.

Avista Stock Up 0.9 %

AVA opened at $37.30 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.49. Avista Co. has a 12 month low of $32.02 and a 12 month high of $39.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 0.75 and a quick ratio of 0.48. The business has a 50-day moving average of $36.55 and a two-hundred day moving average of $37.63.

Avista Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 26th will be given a dividend of $0.49 per share. This is a positive change from Avista’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.48. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 26th. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.25%. Avista’s dividend payout ratio is 75.70%.

Avista Profile

Avista Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an electric and natural gas utility company. It operates in two segments, Avista Utilities and AEL&P. The Avista Utilities segment provides electric distribution and transmission, and natural gas distribution services in parts of eastern Washington and northern Idaho; and natural gas distribution services in parts of northeastern and southwestern Oregon, as well as generates electricity in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana.